City man, 38, charged in sex abuse of child Girl was in wife's care for 5 years

June 23, 1993|By Traci A. Johnson | Traci A. Johnson,Staff Writer

A 38-year-old Westminster man faces charges that he raped and sexually abused a girl his wife had been caring for in their home over a five-year period.

Robert Oliver Braman Jr., of the 100 block of Leister's Church Road, turned himself in to police Monday after a grand jury indicted him on two counts of second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sexual offense, one count of child abuse and one count of third-degree sexual offense.

Circuit Court Judge Luke K. Burns Jr. granted Mr. Braman's release on $40,000 unsecured bond in a bail review hearing Monday, with the stipulation that he have no contact with the alleged victim.

The alleged incidents occurred from the time the child was 10 months old until Feb. 5, the day before her parents called police, the indictment says.

The state "is unable to particularize and specify an exact date of the offense due to the tender age of the victim at the time of the offense and due to the continuing nature of and frequency of the offense," the indictment reads.

The indictment alleges Mr. Braman had intercourse with the child, now 5, during the time she was under his wife's care, but the majority of the allegations involved sexual "touching and feeling," said Tfc. Michael Cain, who is investigating the case.

Mr. Braman had been the subject of an investigation by the Department of Social Services and state police in Westminster since Feb. 6, when the girl's mother accused the defendant of abuse, said Trooper Cain.

Judge Burns is allowing Mr. Braman to leave the state before his trial for a planned trip to Pennsylvania and a trip to New Jersey to see his mother. No trial date has been set.

The judge said he has no reason to believe Mr. Braman will not come back to Carroll to face charges since Mr. Braman has no prior record and has been steadily employed with the state for more than 15 years.

"Everything presented in court [during the bail review hearing] shows stability," said Judge Burns. "[Mr. Braman is] low risk all the way because of his employment and overall stability."